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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
GILBROOK, Ronald John (Jack) - Born on October 13, 1922 in London, Ontario, to JFL Gilbrook and Hester Milligan. John was the oldest of three children. He attended Aberdeen Public School and HB Beal Technical School. In his late-teens, he worked as a delivery driver for Siegel'sWholesale Fruit out of London.
In 1940, he answered the call to service and joined the RCN. He travelled to British Columbia with other recruits from London and trained as a stoker. He was assigned to the HMCS Moose Jaw and saw action on its initial operation in the Battle of the Atlantic. He often spoke of the sinking of a U-boat off the coast of Greenland. On February 9/42 his ship rescued French sailors off the "Alysse" which had been torpedoed by a U-boat. Sometime later in 1942 he joined the ships company on the HMCS SOREL. He also spent time on the HMCS WETASKIWIN. While on loan to the Royal Navy, he saw action in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Sicily. He also served on the following LCI (L): RCN 271, RN 281 and 121.
Sometime during 1944 he suffered a broken neck while serving on a LCI(L) and was later moved to the Canadian Hospital Ship "Letitia".
At the conclusion of the war John served on HMCS Warrior.
He was a recipient of the 1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star (with France and Germany Bar), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with clasp) and the War Medal 1939-45.
Ships served in: LCI(L) 281 (Royal Navy)
(RJG001) Jack Gilbrook on an unknown corvette (RJG002) Obituary for Jack Gilbrook
Free French Corvette Alysse just prior to sinking 09 Feb 1942 Source: Wikipedia Credit: LS Ian Butters RCNVR from HMCS MOOSE JAW
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